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J. Cole Moves Up 'Born Sinner' Album Date, Releases Cover Art

by Tap Money,posted May 20 2013 5:15PM

J. Cole ended all speculation about pushing up the June 25 release date to June 18 for his sophomore LP, Born Sinner, Monday (May 20) morning via Twitter and Instagram. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jay-Z’s protégé moved up the release of his second studio album and will be coming out on the same day as Kanye West, who also will be releasing his new set, Yeezus, on June 18.

“Kanye West is one of the greatest artists of our generation,” Cole tweeted. “Which is exactly why I'm moving my release date up. Born Sinner June 18th.”

"J. has been working nonstop to put out his album a week earlier --living in the studio, bringing in full orchestras and a choir," an unnamed source told THR.

Along with the new release date, the Roc Nation spitter released the album’s official artwork, which is an artistic rendering of a devil-horned child draped in a shiny black coating. Hovering above the young “sinner” is a golden crown, likely meant to symbolize that Cole, whose debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, was certified double-platinum in 2012 by the RIAA, is coming for that hip-hop crown.

It’s said that heavy is the head that wears the crown, but with the creative genius of his first single, “Power Trip,” featuring Miguel, already circulating to widespread critical acclaim, it won’t be long before this competitive spitter makes good on his promise to make this season a “Cole Summer.”